Welcome to Traidcraft Exchange's 'In Depth' blog. This is where Traidcraft employees and guests take a deeper look at the themes behind our work.

We will explore fair trade, ethical business and development, and ask how trade can provide a route out of poverty for farmers and workers in developing countries.

Poverty at its root is a question of powerlessness. George Williams considers whether improving the overall efficiency of value chains and developing new markets for producers can lead can lead not only to increases in income, but also to shifts in the balance of power.

Today, MPs will have a rare chance to debate trading arrangements with African countries – despite the fact that these agreements have already been ratified. Matt Grady examines what this means for the credibility of the UK’s democratic scrutiny process.

Earlier this week, Secretary of State for International Development Penny Mordaunt outlined her vision for UK Aid at the CDC Group. In this blog, we reflect on some of the points she makes in her speech.

Today, on the day that the International Fair Trade Charter is launched, Chief Executive of WFTO Erinch Sahan reflects on how Fair Trade enterprises can be instrumental in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals.

We are delighted to share with you our Impact Report for 2017/2018 in which we reflect on an extraordinary year – one where international trade has become mainstream news, but the voices and needs of people living in poverty are still overlooked.

As businesses and commentators start to wade through the first 25 of the Government’s 84 planned ‘technical notices’ providing guidance in the event of a Brexit no-deal, Liz May talks to Robin Roth, Traidcraft Plc CEO, about the possible impacts for the UK fair trade business.

Traidcraft Exchange has spent the best part of two decades researching and lobbying on trade and investment agreements. Director of Policy and Advocacy Liz May explains how trade deals can help sustainable global development, and where the dangers lie.

The merger of two of the UK’s biggest supermarkets threatens the competitiveness of the groceries supply chain. Tom Wills explains that without regulation that abusive behaviour of a shrinking group of powerful retailers could push small suppliers out of business.

Traidcraft Exchange’s Bangladesh office have a successful history of working with small-scale producers to build new opportunities for business and employment. Senior Programme Manager Sonya Firoz introduces a new project working with small baking businesses to improve their incomes and strengthen their trading relationships.

For over a decade, Traidcraft Exchange has worked with smallholder farmers in Kenya. Janet Ruminju, Programme Manager, explains how a forthcoming project will be supporting women in the horticulture sector to grow more crops and expand their businesses.

Two years ago, Traidcraft Exchange started work with low-income Senegalese fruit farmers and collectors to look at how they could organise their businesses, sell their exotic fruits and begin to turn a healthy profit. Alistair Leadbetter visited the project in early 2018, and reflects on the challenges of the project and the steps that need to be taken to link producers with markets.

A simple step from the government – extending the powers of the Groceries Code Adjudicator – could ease pressure on thousands of food businesses, whether they are a dairy farm in the West Country or an exporter of vegetables in East Africa.

Jute farming is a major industry in many parts of Bangladesh. Traidcraft have been working with women in jute supply chains to strengthen their trading position and diversify their income. Shawkat Hasan and Sonya Firoz from Traidcraft’s Dhaka office reflect on the progress of this project.